Alopecia Areata - Anyone have any experience? 10 yo DS

[DuchessofAnkh]

Does anyone have any experience with Alopecia Areata in a child?

DS is 10 and has patchy hair loss, it is difficult to work out what is going on!

[AnotherTimeMaybe]

OP because he's having protein in his diet it doesn't mean he absorbs it
You can ask your GP for an amino acid test, if they are quite low that's your answer!

[cestlavielife]

Auto immune issues can just happen.
There may be genetic link
You may not find a reason

[DuchessofAnkh]

...well...

having just been to the dermatologist, the lack of regrowth is down to low iron levels....His are 27, and he needs to be 100 to have good hair growth,

So the Alopcia she thinks is a one off event probably caused by a virus but exacerbated by low iron...

Also a steroid cream to "kick start" the hair growth

[AnotherTimeMaybe]

Ok good news I suppose
Based on my experience low iron is usually bacteria so maybe keep an eye on that
Are they prescribing iron then?

[DuchessofAnkh]

when you say "usually bacteria" what do you mean, that he has a stomach bug of sorts?

[AnotherTimeMaybe]

Yes could be , although stomach bug is usually virus it can turn into bacterial . Any virus can turn into bacterial. Out of my own curiosity are his tonsils inflammed?
Basically some doctors believe that bacteria eat up a person's iron hence the low iron

I personally would really ask the GP for amino acid test. This will really show you whether the protein is properly digested and broken down! If not you really have an answer as to why the hair loss..Is his tummy a bit swollen ?

[cestlavielife]

Yes why does he have low iron?

[GinandJag]

My Godson has this. It started when he was about 10. He was completely bald within a couple of years and it is just normal for him. He's 25 now.

[DuchessofAnkh]

This all started with a Throat infection (it was strep throat) and a UTI in late November. Hair started going mid December and visible Early Jan. Very visible now.

yes tummy is often swollen, I assumed it was a "side effect" of the constipation, so when he gets bloated bung more fruit down him.....

I will get an amino acid test....

[DuchessofAnkh]

my goodness GinandJag - I'm hoping it doesn't continue....

[DuchessofAnkh]

Small update if anyone is still with this thread!

His hair is growing back and in a lot nicer condition, nails are also growing well and he has managed to put on 3cm in height in a fairly short period of time!

His iron was low but not out of normal range and the theory was that following an "event" - probably the two viruses - he had an auto-immune reaction and his hair started to fall out, but his iron levels weren't high enough to kick start hair growth again.

Vitamin D was below normal range as well but obv nothing to do with hair growth.

We think his constipation (which took 3 years to diagnose) had a lot to do with low vitamin levels....we have worked hard to make sure his vitamin levels increase and tummy is stable and he looks a whole lot better!

[sadie9]

Thanks for posting this. My 13yr DS has a small balding patch on the top of his head. I thought first ringworm or that his headphones were sitting on it. Have tried Nizoral cream but hard to know if it's helping. The patch is pinker than other parts.
His bloods were done. The GP said his iron was low but still in normal range so no treatment necessary? My son had 2 illnesses this year. He has always had constipation too, like he could take or leave going to the loo.
Were you prescribed supplements or did you get your own children's vitamins or just do diet?

[38cody]

Are you in London?
Dr Fenton at St Thomas' (NHS) hospital will get to the bottom of it - or if you have private healthcare or can afford a consultation £350.00 he is also at Harley Street 2 days a week. Try to get it seen quickly, to stop him losing it all, skin looks a little sore which is unusual for Alopecia.

[sadie9]

I doctored the headphones so the padded strap is up off the hair. Also using nizoral shampoo now. Scalp has gone back to normal colour so headphones might be the culprit as hair is thick as normal at the back. Traction alopecia can result from constant pressure from headphones also.

[PinkiePoo]

Hi,

My daughter is 7. My husband noticed this morning that she all of a sudden has a small bald patch on top of her head. I had never noticed but now it's all I see.
I'm so worried it's Alopecia! When I look closely there are tiny black dots on most of the bare scalp but a tiny bit completely bare. I would say it's the size of a 5p.
I asked her if she pulled her hair out and she said no. A few weeks ago, she had a hair wrap in which was secured with a small silver clamp (it was done at LegoLand!) and when she washed her hair it came out... but when she showed me the braid, it had a load of hair attached, like it had been yanked out of her head.
But that was about 3 weeks ago?! I would've noticed before then!
Need advice! I'm so so worri d for her!